Capo tasto



N. M. JOHNSTON CAPO TASTO Filed May l1, l1.925

Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

NORMAN M. JOHNSTON, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

CAPO TASTO.

YApplication filed May 11, 1925.

This invention relates to devices for raisingthe pitch of stringed instruments, and especially fretted instruments such as guitars, banjos and ukeleles.

The objects of theinvention are to provide apermanent attachment upon the head or neck vof the musical instrument, a capo tasto being adjustably carried by said attachment i and arranged to be normally held in an inop- `erative position and to be quickly adj usted to stop the strings adjacent to any desired fret in order to raise the pitch or' the instrument accordingly; the device being so constructed that it will at n0 time interfere withy the free movement of the hands in playing the instrument.

V The above and other objects are attained by providing a table permanently attached to thev head, or outer end of the'neck, of a stringed instrument, a slotted bar being longitudinally adjustable thereon by means of a clamping screw and having a cross lhead at its inner end arranged to be clamped across all of the strings.

Anembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the 4accompanying drawing, in

v whichl dn Figure 1 is a side elevation of the neck portion of a musical instrument, showing the improved capo tasto attachment thereon;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe drawing.

i The neck of a stringed musical instrument is shown at 1,`provided with the head 2, which is usually inclined downward there- ,f from, at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1.

' Shown).

The strings 3 are shown stretched, in the kusual manner,fbetween the tail piece (not and the pegs 4 in the head, and normally held slightly spaced above the frets 5 by the nut 6, all of said construction being usual and well known in instruments of this general class. Y Y The present improvements includes the table 7, substantially parallel with the plane of the` neck 1, and preferably provided, near lts inner end, vwith the angular, inverted U- shaped portion 8, in which is housed a nut 9, forV engagement with the n clamping screw l0.

Feet 11, are'tormed at the ends of this table for permanently attaching the same Serial No. 29,443.

to the head of the instrument, as by the screws 12.

The capo tasto element comprises a metal bar 13, slotted longitudinally as at 14, t-o receive the clamping screw 10, and arranged to be slidably mounted upon the top of the U-shaped portion 8, a downturned outer end 14', of the bar, engaging the top of the table and holding the bar substantially parallel therewith when the clamping screw is tightened.

A cross head 15 is formed at the inner end oi" the bar 13, which may be curved slightly downward as shownl at 16, a bar 17 of wood, fiber or the like, being fixed to the under side of the cross head for engagement with the strings, as shown in the drawing.

By sliding the bar 13 longitudinally until the cross head is located adjacent to the fret at which it is desired to stop the strings, the clamping screw is tightened clamping the cross bar 17 tightly upon all of the strings and holding the strings against the top of the adjacent fret, as shown at A, in Fig. 1.

The downturned outer end 14', of the bar 13, being in contact with the table, prevents any tilting of the bar 13, thus assisting the clamping screw in holding the cross bar tightly upon the strings.

When the capo tasto is not in use, the bar 13 is slidably moved outward until the cross bar 17 is beyond the nut 6, and the clamp ing screw is tightened, holding the attachment in this position.

I claim:

l. A capo tasto attachment for a stringed instrument having a head, comprising a table permanently attached to the head, a bar slid` ably mounted upon the table and having an inturned outer end engaging the table and a cross head, for engagement with the strings of the instrument and al clamping screw associated with the table for clamping the bar in adjusted position.

2. A capo tasto attachment for a stringed instrument having a head, comprising a table permanently attached to the head, a nut car ried by the table,.a bar slidably mounted over the nut and having an inturned outer end engaging the table and a cross head at its inner end for engagement with the strings, and a clamping screw associated with the nut for clamping the bar in adjusted position.

3. A capo tasto attachment for a stringed llO instrument havin g a head, comprising a table permanently attached to thehea-dand having an inverted U'- haped portion near its inner end, a nut located in said U-shaped portion, a bar slidably mounted upon said U-shaped portion and having an inturned outer end engaging the table, a cross head at the inner end of the bar Jfor engagement with the strings, and a clamping screw associated with the nut 'for clamping the bar in adjusted' position.

t. A capo tasto attachment for a stringed instrument having a head, comprising a table permanently attached to the head, a bar slidably mounted upon the table and having an outer end engaging the table and a cross head tor engagement with the strings of the instrument, and clamping means associated With the table `for clamping the bar in adjusted position.

5. A capotasto attachment for a stringed instrument having a head provided With a table portion, a slotted bar slidably mounted upon the table and having an inturned outer end engaging the table and al cross head for engagement with the strings of the instrument, and a clamping screw associated With the head and extended through the slot in the bar for clamping the bar in adjusted position.

ln testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NORMAN M. JOHNSTON. 

